December 19, 2011

I could hardly believe that only five stitchers responded to the second part of the give-away! I wrote your names down in the order that you responded. The random number generator chose Jo first and Petra second. So the two of you will receive a free "Elizabeth Hancock" pattern! Email me at little houseneedleworks@msn.com for instructions to claim your win!

December 16, 2011

Hi all. . . get out your pattern and check for #75 written in by hand. If you are the owner of this pattern, email me at littlehouseneedleworks@msn.com and I'll tell you what to do to redeem your gift of chart and silks!

Now for the surprise. . . . . . this is for those of you who whose have charts without numbers. . . . . . sort of a second-chance "happy holidays" bonus! If you hold one of those patterns, simply reply to this post and identify yourself as a chart owner of an unnumbered pattern. We will be using the random number generator to select two post writers who will each receive the chart, Elizabeth Hancock. You have until Monday to reply!!

December 15, 2011

Tomorrow is the drawing for the Elizabeth Hancock reproduction pattern that will be shipped complete with silks to the lucky winner. Tune in to see if your number is drawn as you will only have until Monday to email me with your win. Also, if you have a pattern without a number we want you to tune in too for a surprise "round two" to the contest.

The supply lists for the two newest patterns are posted on our web site. The patterns took off in a UPS truck yesterday headed straight to the distributors in the US.

December 13, 2011

I love seeing my holiday decorations come out of hiding, don't you? Between autumn and winter, I really don't know which color palette is my favorite. But red is definitely one of my favorite colors!

This little ornament doll is one I made years ago. In fact I made a ton of them and gave them as neighbor gifts that year. She is made from a simple muslin body that only has arms and a head. The dress is a rectangle folded in half. The arm areas are left open then a neck hole cut in the middle. Gathers here and there and a hot glue gun and it's finished. Very simple even without a pattern.

What you see here is the bottom of my new Charlie Brown Tree (the top is in the view above). They sell them at Pottery barn (not by that name) in different sizes. I need one red ornament to make it look authentic. The cardinal moved on to another spot in the house. :)

This is a part of my Dept. 56 Nativity. I will share my favorite section closer to Christmas.

December 12, 2011

Good Tidings is the last ornament we ship in 2011. But we'll be back next year with twelve more!!!

A special "thank you" to my friend Vonna who stitched the ornaments in the 2011 collection. Somehow she was always able to read my mind when I described a finish or could catch the essence of what I wanted an ornament to "say".

December 1, 2011

The original Elizabeth Hancock Sampler was created in 1831 in England. As I have done previously, I took the original and made a new sampler, one that I think you will love, love, love! For me this totally looks like an LHN sampler which is why I like it as much as I do. Elizabeth and I must be related!

You must know that I love the color red. . . . . . I couldn't resist this color palette!

The stitching is in Belle Soie with a hand dyed cotton color conversion provided.

Stitched on 30 count Weeks Dye Works Straw linen.

The stitching, including errors have been duplicated as they were found on the original sampler. However I made this design smaller than the original and left off the bottom portion. Her name was then moved up into place to complete the design. Everything you see in the photo above, down to the star border is exactly as it appeared originally. Nothing has been moved in that upper portion but because of the changes we are calling this a reproduction/adaptation sampler.

The pattern itself includes a photo of the original and some details concerning the design. Mom stitched this for me and it now hangs in her home where she can see it every day. It looks beautiful with her English styled living room but would look great in my home too!

This design will ship mid-month along with our last ornament of the year (photo coming soon!).